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Jan 2010

Living in the Pre.

January 20, 2010 By 17 Comments
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I sometimes wonder… what did we used to do pre-blogging, pre-twitter, pre-facebook, pre-RSS readers? Did we enjoy the simplicities of life or were there other things that took up our time? I asked my husband this just tonight and he reminded me that in fact, there were hobbies of mine that took up the bulk of my free time. I scrap booked, I made art at local DIY venues, I was pretty involved in my MOPS group. Guess what else I did though? I wrote, I read books until late in the evenings, I watched movies with my husband. There were no blogging deadlines, no Facebook to check, or social networking to do – in fact, we used to sit down to watch our shows on TV without… dare I say it… our iPhones.

Don’t get me wrong, I adore this blog. I’m passionate about writing here, and encouraging others in creative living. I am blessed to be able to do what I love for a living, and the people I’ve met via this entire experience? Priceless, truly. Do I ever yearn for the life I lead pre-internet? At times yes. Simply because I made time for those hobbies. Now I simply dream of them, wishing to get back to them “someday”, yet the days pass so quickly I wonder if “someday” will ever come. I can sit back and complain all I want about how I’m spending my time, but goodness gracious, no one is to blame but me! No one can change this – you guessed it, but me!

I realized tonight as I sat in a dark and quiet living room, that my life pre-all of this is simply that. Pre. I have kids now, a career, responsibilities, and commitments. Does this mean I can’t incorporate it into the present? Absolutely not.

  • I can carve out time for the things I used to love.
  • I can make the choice to work late into one evening to take the next off.
  • I can minimize my RSS reader, Twitter list, or Facebook time.
  • I can shut the computer down for a day and the world won’t end.
  • I can delegate, and ask for help.
  • I can learn to say no.

All simple things I’m learning, ever so slowly, that are going to enable me to enjoy the now and stop living in the pre. I hope you will too, if you are struggling like I’ve been I would encourage you to think about ways you too can let go and enjoy the now.

About Angie


Angie is the founder and editor of The Creative Mama, who lives in the beautiful Bay Area, CA. She also blogs her own personal journey at angiewarren.com. When she isn't writing or taking photos, Angie can be found having tickle fights with her boys and frequenting the local Starbucks.

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  • http://www.parismillerphoto.com Tammy

    Wow, my husband & I just had this conversation over the weekend. He gently told me… “You do it to yourself.” And the whole word No, yeah that is hard to incorporate. I’m trying my best though. Good luck to you as well!

  • http://www.kookiekrums.typepad.com Janet / Kookie Krums

    Ang, this post could not have been more perfect timing for me. I am in the throes of desperately trying to say “no” to certain things to gain the time for those things I “used to” and it’s so very hard!! And why do I worry so much about others being disappointed in me instead of being excited about the extra time I’ll have for my family?? Lots to think about, thank you for this.

  • http://createdbychicks.com Quinn

    Loved this post!! It’s such a good reminder and reflects exactly the point I’m at in my life. All the extra “stuff” in the pre or in the now is just “stuff” unless you’re able to effectively be in the PRESENT. I love the concept about savoring “being” rather than “doing.” My to-do list gets out-of-control, but if I’m focused on “being” the mom I want to be or “being” the woman I want to be, life is sooooo much happier. Thanks for the post!

  • http://www.fernleafphotography.com Alice

    This really spoke to me today. I\’ve been trying to draw back inward after too much time on the interwebs. It is a hard habit to break, but it has been so good for me and my family. The constant strive for balance. We\’ll all get there one of these days!

  • http://www.overcomingbusy.com Marci@OvercomingBusy

    You are right about spending time on all our modern technological wonders. It is a choice. I have always said that you have to spend your time doing something. The key is to spend it doing what is really important to you. And that may change from day to day. Somedays I spend lots of time with the kids playing and reading or cleaning. Other days, I spend a lot of time on facebook and blogging. Its all in the balance.

  • http://www.jessicagphoto.com jessica g

    um, were you in my home last night because after a long day with my daughter I had to sit myself down and figure out how to become more present and less distracted. I love shutting down my computer, but I think I’ll need to hide my iphone, too. Sad that I have to think so hard about breaking away from the web.

  • http://www.emmymom2.blogspot.com Emily

    Great post. I often wonder what I would do, if I would survive a day without the computer. I think it is time to find out :)

  • http://www.redkphoto.com Kelli

    My husband and I also just had this conversation over the weekend. I feel like I’m constantly looking for new things to do and never saying “no”. Great reminder, thanks!

  • http://www.creativechics.etsy.com Debbie Pearson

    Great words of wisdom. Ironically we were having this same conversation at my house this week. Maybe we all feel a little overwhelmed by how preoccupied we are with technology. I’ve gotten back to reading and realized that I had really missed laying in bed with a good book in the evening.

  • http://gidgetgoeshome.com Nicole aka Gidget

    Angie, I could have written this post myself! I heartily agree and am currently trying to do just what you are talking about. It’s amazing how hard it is to break a habit when that habit has become more of a lifestyle than a habit. I love this digital world, but I also miss the simpler, less technological life I used to live. :)

  • http://www.thebonafidelife.com Chele

    You always say what deep down I want to…. thanks for sharing that you are normal! Now to go make time for the hubby and I! :)

  • http://www.andreadawnphotography.com andrea

    Amen sister! I wonder if it’s the end of a year, a decade gone by, that we are all realizing how quickly time flies and realizing the things we miss if we aren’t living in the present, truly being present with the here and now right in front of us. I posted this quote the other day on my Twitter & FB…

    “Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment.” ~Buddha

    I’ll be the first to admit, it’s difficult and I’m hoping that in time it will become easier… it’s all about balance.

  • http://journeyingfive.blogspot.com darlene

    I lay in bed last night comtemplating this question. Spending so much time making web connections, feeling a little burdened by them at times, wondering if I need to pull back from them and regroup.

  • http://Freetolearnanlovinit.blogspot.com Rana

    I’ve been thinking about that lately too. My pre cell phone life, pre laptop, pre blog. I used to scrapbook into the wee hours of the night. I’ve scheduled the time tonight to do just that. I’m spending a couple of hours in my scrapbook room. Great post.

  • http://ordinaryinspirations.wordpress.com Thea

    Yep…guilty! Still working on the ebb and flow of this part of my life! Thanks for the reminders of Pre.

    xo
    T

  • http://www.diaryofafirstchild.com Luschka

    yes! my husband is always on at me to stop reading other people\’s lives and actually live my own!

  • http://skooksplayground.blogspot.com Skooks

    About 5 years ago I went a whole year without TV. It was awesome. I wonder what would happen if I did that with my computer?